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As of Friday afternoon, roughly 500 seats remained unsold for Sunday’s Grey Cup, a paltry number that now sets the stage for a sold-out show.

While the limited number of available seats sounds encouraging, it’s debatable whether the 104th Grey Cup can be described as an event.

In Toronto, some would argue that it’s become a non-event, the Grey Cup victims of a crowded sporting marketplace, almost doomed from the beginning when tickets were overpriced, then subsequently reduced when reality began to sink in.

The 2012 Grey Cup was an “event’’ given its 100th anniversary, the fact the Argos were in the game, a confluence of factors that produced a very tidy box-office return.

Luckily, Ottawa advanced to this year’s final against Calgary, but the football buzz hasn’t exactly been ignited.

Giveaways, promotional initiatives that weren’t approved by the CFL, half-price offers, layers to the game, the CFL’s biggest and highest profiled of the season, one normally does not witness.

For football fans still wanting to attend Sunday’s kickoff, the CFL’s box office has prices in various ranges.

Secondary sites such as highly reputable StarOne Tickets are offering seats at the 35 yard line for roughly half price, customers being asked to fork over $300 for a ticket, excluding service fees, with a face value of $599 to sit right behind a team’s bench area.

A year from now, the backdrop will be decidedly different with the Grey Cup being played in Ottawa for the first time since the Argos beat B.C. more than a decade ago.

Frank Clair Stadium has given way to TD Place Stadium and all the appealing bars and restaurants surrounding the venue.

Fans in Ottawa have rallied around the Redblacks and one gets the impression demand will be great next fall regardless of the two teams competing for a Grey Cup.

One can only imagine the atmosphere if Ottawa makes it back, but that would require a third successive trip.

In addition, there won’t be anything in Ottawa quite like the crowded market Toronto experienced this sporting calendar.

Regardless of perception, Sunday’s game will have a packed house, at least it’s trending in that direction.

The giveaways, discounts, two-for-one deals won't matter when the Stamps and Redblacks meet.